3 September is Merchant Navy Day, which was first officially commemorated in New Zealand in The date marks the sinking of the first Allied merchant ship in just hours after the Second World War began.

New Merchant Navy and Bertram Mackennal stamps

Great Britain issued a set of 6 postage stamps on 19 September 2013 featuring the Merchant Navy. Three of the stamps are from the era of sails and the other three include this 1940 portrait of the Royal Mail Ship Queen Elizabeth.